Help Coding Stamp Scans, Please!

A question from someone who has some computer knowledge to those who have more: why is it better to use multiple folders than one folder when I'm looking at storing about 1000 or so images? Would it slow the computer down? I'm wondering if there are other places I need to change; my wallpaper folder has 2500 images in it.

An answer to someone with some computer knowledge,
from someone who has virtually nil.

I have over 2,000,000 stamp images,
my computer is a fast as you would want.
I see no discernible slowing.

It plays havoc with the FREE version of ACDSee
I cannot go "searching" too often, as ACDSee's log gets overloaded.
I sometimes have to re-boot when my scanner jams
from too many scans.

I put this down to Windows XP and the limited memory 3Gb?
If you have a later operating system, I presume you are free running
with nearly unlimited memory.

multiple folders won't slow the computer down.

Just finished rescanning my overprint collection. 296 pages currently in 13 folders.

Starting on another collection tomorrow, maybe.

Anyone got more information as to why using different folders is better than putting many files in the one folder?

It is only better if what you are using feels uncomfortable,
or has exposed weaknesses.
This will only be apparent with one's own personal use.

Imagine a Filing Cabinet, do you place all receipts in one folder?
usually you will have "car", "utilities" "bank" etc.

If you employ windows explorer, you'll have the entire
filing cabinet on display.
In the left hand pane, you'll have the cabinet and its hiearchy
in the right hand pane the stamp/s that are highlighted.

Moving from drawer to drawer is 1 mouse click.

Example:
Lets say I buy an auction lot from Joe Bloggs
a hagner of 40 stamps from Brazil.

I click on the Brazil Folder, the right hand pane
immediately reveals the 969 stamps in my collection.
I organise the stamps on my desk, of the 40 stamps,
I have 4 stamps of 100reis, I click on "find 100r"
and see every 100rei stamp I have in the collection.

I can check the stamp against the image, and immediately
know if I should keep the stamp, replace a worse copy
or immediately leave the examples as duplicates, or if you
have a "variety".

If you just have a plain database, then the same applies,
and you'll know if the stamp is in your "want list" or not.


That's one example, no doubt others have their own use?

I think that there is a lot of wisdom in this comment, Rod. At this stage I'll trial something and see if it does the job. When the weaknesses are found I'll post comments and ask for suggestions. Already the suggestions have been extremely helpful in consolidating my thoughts and avoiding potential problems.

Jerry also mentioned in a private email about potential alphabetisation problems when using capital letters. For example, Windows Explorer may see BrSo as after BrSA but other programs may see BrSo as first because of the capital A.

Thanks to one and all

I'll keep posting as time progresses.

By the way, I found an interesting article while searching for the maximum files in a folder. It said:

*Maximum number of files on disk: 4,294,967,295
*Maximum number of files in a single folder: 4,294,967,295

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...6ac12b737beb

I think my wallpaper folder is safe at present.

Hi Peter



I think you misunderstood, or it is a typo. According to the sort algorithm, any case sensitive options and the Ascii chracter codes: http://www.asciitable.com/

BrSo is different than BrSO. For instance:

Original Insensitive Sensitive 
A         A          a
BrSO      a          A
a         BrSO       BrSo
BrSo      BrSo       BrSO

The order of items in the insensitive sort depends on the order of the items before sorting.

=================================

Using folders does not significantly slow down the computer. In fact the Windows file system is predicated on the use of folders. As we are all saying it makes for a less confusing schema and in the long run makes maintenance easier.

Jerry B

First post here, recently returned to this hobby after a mere 40 years lapse.. This particular thread is most interesting as it is the way forward for me to incorporate some new tools into the hobby. Here is my dilemma; my stamps are hinge mounted on white paper so that doing a scan does not show up the perforations as is the case with black background. Are there any techniques to address this problem?

Welcome Conker..

I can't imagine the paper is the same color as the stamps them selves.
If that is what is showing up when you scan them, you should adjust the contrast settings on your scanner software.

Conker, welcome!

If you print your own pages then adding a light or medium gray background that is bigger than the stamp would help and not detract from the viewing of a stamp.

Bee See on SCF here has done this on some of his pages and it looks good.

Another solution is to use black plastic mounts which are clear on the front. You can buy pages or strips and cut the strips to size.

Other than that, you probably have to remove the stamp from the album page and use a black or dark back\ground paper while in the scanner and then remount or rehinge the stamp.

As stampvirgin says, sometimes the paper and the stamp are different enough to show up after adjust the contrast or such while scanning or afterwards in a photo editing program. I find when scanning stamps on cover (envelope) this problem occurs and at times is hard to get around without loosing some of the stamps original colours.

Hi

Welcome Conker!

Another way is to carefully lift each stamp in a row and place a strip of black paper behind the uplifted stamps. After you scan the page carefully remove the blank papaer strips. It is a pain but it should work.

Jerry B

Thank you stampvirgin, Puzzler and jbcev80 for welcome and responses. I am going with highlights adjustment in my scanner software as there is only minimal color changes to where I can see perforations clearly. (I want to use the Gimp free software for accurate perforation measurement). Back to this subject thread, I am following Rod222 advice and going with a folders based system with a separate folder for each country - there is much scanning in my future. Rod222, in your path
C:/Stamps/Germany/Fed rep/SG2167 (1986) T0832 300pf fanny hensel [0m1]
composer File522.jpg
would you please further explain the TO832, [0m1] and File522 usage?
This is clearly an awesome forum with great knowledge!

You shall have great fun Conker,
and (possibly) never lose an image if you go the Windows explorer route
Welcome to the "Filing Cabinet System" :)

Remember, You will one day need more than
just 1 folder for a country!
When you hit Germany you will need the "Germany" folder
then 20 sub folders under Germany!

Foldernormous!

Avoiding reinventing the wheel my code is borrowed from Country Catalogue

So
C:/Stamps/Germany/Fed rep/SG2167 (1986) T0832 300pf fanny hensel [0m1]

1:C Drive

2:"Stamps"Folder (This is the Biggie, it holds every stamp I have)
32 Gb
advantage..backing up
select the stamps folder, drag the mouse to your
external drive and "copy" ...go and have a cup of tea and a sticky bun, whilst the computer does your bidding.

3: Germany =first Subfolder
4: Fed rep = second subfolder fed rep of germany stamps 1949>
5: SG2167=catalogue number
6: (1986) = date
advantage...put the text string (1986 and it will pull up every german stamp for that year

7: T0832 = Type
advantage type can be adjusted by user to include all
stamps of a certain type
I use 832 for all famous german women
spread acros 6 years of issues
type in text string T0832 and you have every stamp of that series

8: 300pf fanny hensel = stamp details

9: [0m1] = I have 0 mint stamps, and 1 used stamp
advantage [missing]
use text string [missing and you have a printable "want list"

Hope that helps
Good luck

When you become a stamp maniac
this is what Germany can end up looking like....

Multiple folders is the only way I can keep track of things.

Also, for certain scans it never hurt to add information to the file name AFTER your naming convention.

For example you could name a stamp:
599 MNH Great Color purchased 1-14-12 from Joe for 20.00

Windows and most software will "see" the 599 after 598 and before 600 and ignore the rest.

You get 256 characters, just don't use any of these characters: \ / ? : * " > < |

Thanks for that Blade,
I had forgotten the outside limit and had been wondering.


Conker:
I use the "File 522" etc as a means to facilitate
or rather to avoid "overwriting" an image.

If I have a scan of say fanny hensel,
and I get a better stamp, I scan the stamp
then copy the fanny hensel text, and just add a differing number
say File 433 .
This saves me typing, and prevents overwriting the other image.